Display-easel.



PATENTED MAR. 6, 1906.

J. B. TIMBERLAKE.

DISPLAY EASEL.

APPLIUATION nun m 18, 1905.

and plate) in place thereon.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 6, 1906.

Application filed y 18,1905. Serial No. 261,056.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN B. TIMBERLAKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Display Easels, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to holders for dishes of the class of easels or racks which are used for supporting them in such way that they cap 1be displayed tastily and can be supported sa e y.

The object of the invention is to provide an article of this class which can be readily and cheaply made of wire, each comprising several supports, so that two, three, or more dishes differing from each other in shape and size can be readily supported and displayed without interfering one with the other.

Figure 1 is a front view of a display rack or easel embodying my improvements and showing also a set of articles (cup, saucer, Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the easel or rack and showing in edge view the articles, the cup being here shown in the second of the two positions in which it can be supported. Fig. 3 is a perspective of the easel or rack detached. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide an easel rack or holder capable of supporting three dishes which are typical of a large set-such as a cup, saucer, and plate-and adapted to hold them in such positions as to most effectively display their characteristic features. Heretofore use has been made of articles for this purpose; but all that have come within my observation have been cumbersome and expensive and have not had the tasty appearance which is desirable and have not been capable of displaying 1 the dish goods as efiectively as wanted.

The easel or rack which I have succeeded in providing is made of wire throughout and preferably of a single piece or of a single length of twist.

As shown in the drawings, the easel may be regarded as comprising two principal parts or elements, one indicated as an entirety by A 'and the other by B. That at A has its parts so shaped and related as to provide a firm support for the approximately flat dishes, such as saucers and plates, while that at B consists of an extension or forward projection adapted to support a cup.

The wire of the element A is bent to have I the approximately vertical back part a a b, the leg parts being indicated at a a and the top connecting and supporting bar at I). Just forward of the legs a the wire is bent upward somewhat, as shown at c, and extended forward a a suitable distance. It is then turned somewhat sharply upward to form a stop at d. At the top of this stop part the wire is carried forward a short distance and then bent inward to form an angle at e. It will be understood that there are parts similar to those mentioned provided on each side of the easel. At f the strands of the wire are carried inward from the sides until they meet at y, where they are secured together, preferably by twisting them together two or three times, and, as shown, these parts ff of the wire strands are carried not only inward, but backward slightly.

From the interlocking twist at g the strands are shaped, as shown at h h, following curved lines approximating semicircles; but any of several curvatures can be followed. The end parts of the strands at the extremities of the curves h h are turned downward, as shown at i i, to form legs or supports, and at the extremities loops j are provided, preferably, these furnishing smooth foot-like terminals.

Four points of support for the easel are thus furnished, two at the feet j and two at the bends is k, where the inclined arms 0 and the back legs a join.

By examining-Figs. 1 and 2 the mode of using the easel or rack will be readily understood. A plate C or article of long diameter can be fitted to the rear part of the support, the front portion of its edge resting against the stops at d d, which prevent it from slipping forward and its upper part bearingbackward against the upright or vertical part of the back element A. A saucer or flat article of shorter diameter can be also rested upon the easel in such way as to avoid any serious bearing upon or contact with the plate C and yet in such manner that neither will interfere with effectively displaying the-ornamentation or characteristics of the other. The

forward portion of the edge of the saucer D rests upon the wire in the bends or angles at e, which hold its lower part away from the plate.

The front element B of the easel is utilized to support the cup E. These cups approximate the shape and outline shown in the drawings. When desired for instance, when the easel is in a relatively elevated p0- sitionthe cup can be seated in the way shown in Fig. 1that is, have its bottom portion fitted snugly within the ring-like holder at h h, the vertical axis of the cup being then perpendicular to the plane of the ring. Under other circumstancesfor instance, when the easel is in a relatively low positionthe cup can be tilted or placed with its axis inclined to the plane of the ring,

so that the line of sight of the observer shall be approximately at right angles to its axis, as shown in Fig. 2. Consequently the full visual effect of the ornamentation on the cup can be obtained, not only as considered by itself, but also in conjunction with the visual effects resulting from the ornamentation of the other articles.

It will be noticed that in the embodiment of my invention illustrated herein I have so utilized the wire as to bring the two end parts to the front to serve as legs i i and will also be seen that in the construction shown these are not rigidly connected together. Consequently tne two halves of the holder ring h 7:- can 'eld more or less to permit the insertion of articles of different sizes or shapes.

What I claim is 1. A display rack or easel for dishes having two elements A and B, the element A having an upward-extending support for the back of a flat article and having stops in front of the lower edge of the article, and the element B having a ring-like holder with downwardlyextending legs arranged in front of said stops on the element A, said ring-like holder being adapted to support a cup independently of the flat article in the rear, said rack or easel being made of wire bent to provide the aforesaid elements, substantially as set forth.

2. A display rack or easel for dishes having a rear element A formed with an upwardlyextending support a, b, and with an upper stop e for a dish of small diameter and a lower stop (I for a dish of larger diameter, the

aforesaid parts of the easel being formed of a single wire, and a front element B extending forward from the element A and having a wire ring-like support h for a cup, substantially as set forth.

3. A display rack or easel for dishes having a front cup-support formed of the two-part wire ring with the downwardly-extending leg or legs and a rear support for saucers or plates having the upwardly-extending back support and stops or rests for the front edges and having at its other side legs with table rests or feet.

5. A display rack or easel of the class described, comprising an elevated cup holder having legs with table-engaging feet or rests at one side, and a support for a flat article having an upwardlyextending element adapted to support the back of the article and an inclined element adapted both to support the front edge of the article to be displayed and to assist in supporting the said cup-holder.

6. A display-easel of the class described formed of a single piece of wire having upwardly-extending supports for the back of a flat article, an inclined support for the front lower edge of said flat article, and a cupholder at the upper end of said inclined support having supports with table-engaging rests or feet.

7. A display-easel formed of a single piece of wire comprising an upwardly-extending support for the back of a fiat article, an inclined support for the lower front edge of said iflat article, a horizontally-disposed cupholder at the top of said inclined support and projecting forward therefrom, and having legs with table-engaging feet or rests.

8. A display-easel of the class described comprising an upwardly-extending support for the back of a flat article, an inclined support having a plurality of stops adapted to engage with the lower front edge of fiat articles to be displayed, and a cup-holder extending forward from the upper end of said inclined support and having a horizontallydisposed cup-engaging portion and legs with table-engaging rests or feet.

9. A display-easel comprising an u right portion adapted to support the back 0 a flat article, a support for the lower front edge of said flat article inclined to the back support and secured thereto at its lower end, and a horizontally-disposed cup-holder secured to the upper end of said inclined ortion extending forward therefrom, and .aving upright supporting-legs independent of said inclined support.

1.0. A display-easel of the class described, formed ofa single piece of wire bent to comprise an upright part adapted to support the back of a flat article and having parallel legs connected by an elevated cross-bar, and an then bent downwardly to; form supports with inclined part having stops for the article to be table-engaging rests or feet. 10 displayed extending forward and upward In testimony whereof I affix my signature from the legs at lower ends of the legs of said in presence of two witnesses.

upright part, the strands at the upper end of JOHN B. TIMBERLAKE.

said inclined part being intertwisted and then Witnesses:

bent away from each other to form a hori- AUGUSTE J. LIX.

zontally-disposed ring-like cup-holder and H. N. LOW. 

